Thomas Village Front Yard

These clients had lived for 15 years in their home with a front yard that was covered in lava rock. As they neared retirement, they decided it was high time to beautify the front yard. I designed a shade structure in the front courtyard patio that attached to the house. It provides the most shade in the afternoon by using angled timbers. I included two large deciduous shade trees for the south facing front yard with serpentine flagstone retaining walls.

Project Date: March 2017

Project Price: $10,000 – $49,999

We could not be more pleased with Erin’s work. Starting with a neglected patch of weeds and lava rock, she spent considerable time with us to come up with an outstanding design plan along with the many design revisions and improvements. She listened carefully to our needs, understood our particular sense of design, and was cognizant of financial budget constraints. We did not have timeline constraints (we just wanted it done right), but we’re sure she’d accommodate a deadline if necessary.

Erin actively researched options and checked with us every step of the way, even accompanying us as we went to various sources of hardscape and plantings. She has an astute eye for color and textures, as well as an extensive knowledge of plants and trees and which ones will do well in the given climate. Her design sense is superb, and our new installation (pergola/shade structure, landscaping) has garnered consistent praise from our neighbors.

She is a pleasure to work with. Her wealth of experience helped us avoid bad choices we might have otherwise made. Unlike many designers who simply give you a plan and move on, Erin meticulously coordinated with the landscapers and oversaw their work on a daily basis. Erin takes ownership of the quality of the job and works closely with the landscapers to make sure the job matches the plan and is done right. She served as our advocate with the landscaper when things needed to be re-worked, for example. Even when she had family issues or was traveling, she was never more than a text or phone call away. She stayed reachable at all times and always responded to questions or concerns, resolving them quickly.

In our area — where competency is at a premium and sometimes hard to come by— we feel fortunate to have found such an excellent, skilled, qualified, caring, and responsible design professional. We give her our highest recommendation.